Growth, decay, and change: Organizations in the contemporary women's movement in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Social movements have three potential trajectories: they can grow; they can change, and they can decay and eventually die. To compare their trajectories, I examine 47 organizations in six women's movements in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the last twenty years. I synthesize data from interviews with activists, organization documents and participant observation of women's movement activities during December 2001--June 2003, a period of intense collective action. Three themes--decision-making forms, participation, and external ties--are at the foundation of how we can understand social movement organization (SMO) growth, decay, and change. First, hierarchy does have its benefits for SMOs, but it is not the only means by which SMOs survive, remain active, and grow. Second, the way that SMOs actively structure participation (with decisions about SMO collective identity, exclusivity and inclusivity, non-member participation, and recruitment) is central to SMO growth. Third, outside ties with SMOs and other actors can bring groups material resources, external recognition, moral support, public attention, and human resources, but these relationships can be conflict-ridden. This dissertation generates a new way to think about SMOs as organizations that need to resolve dilemmas about decision-making, participation, and external ties. It contributes to the literature on social movements in Latin America and gendered collective action in the context of democratization. It also includes practical insights for social movement organizations and activists.